Short answer
Consider how the interplay of visual, auditory, and even implied tactile elements in your design can create a profound, embodied experience for the user, aiming for a 'sublime' rather than merely functional interaction.
- Field
- Classic Design
- Source
- cIRcle (University of British Columbia) (2015)
- Method
- Qualitative analysis of cinematic techniques and their theoretical underpinnings.
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Stylistic excess in non-verbal cinema, through elements like special effects, cinematography, and music, can create a 'sublime' viewing experience by engaging viewers' bodies and emotions. This classic design research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in cIRcle (University of British Columbia). Using Qualitative analysis of cinematic techniques and their theoretical underpinnings., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Consider how the interplay of visual, auditory, and even implied tactile elements in your design can create a profound, embodied experience for the user, aiming for a 'sublime' rather than merely functional interaction.
Non-verbal cinematic techniques can induce profound psychophysiological and emotional responses in viewers.
Stylistic excess in non-verbal cinema, through elements like special effects, cinematography, and music, can create a 'sublime' viewing experience by engaging viewers' bodies and emotions.
cIRcle (University of British Columbia) · 2015
Key Findings
- 01Stylistic excess in non-verbal cinema can lead to a sublime experiential response.
- 02Audiovisual stimuli, including special effects, cinematography, and music, can trigger psychophysiological and emotional reactions such as visual hapticity, synesthesia, and kinesthesia.
- 03Philip Glass's scores, through biomusicological phenomena like rhythmic entrainment, contribute to the sublime effect by propelling the visual experience.
Application
Design takeaway
Consider how the interplay of visual, auditory, and even implied tactile elements in your design can create a profound, embodied experience for the user, aiming for a 'sublime' rather than merely functional interaction.
How to apply
When designing interactive experiences, explore how dynamic visual pacing, atmospheric sound design, and unexpected sensory juxtapositions can create moments of heightened emotional engagement.
Project actions
- 01When analyzing existing designs, consider how their aesthetic and sensory elements contribute to the overall user experience.
- 02Think about how you can use visual and auditory cues in your own design project to evoke specific emotions or physical sensations.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Integrates multiple theoretical frameworks (embodied spectatorship, sublime theory).
- +Provides specific examples from a well-known film trilogy to illustrate concepts.
Limitations
The subjective nature of emotional responses means that not all users will react the same way to specific design elements.
Reliability & validity
The validity of the findings relies heavily on the theoretical frameworks used and the interpretation of subjective viewer experiences. Reliability could be improved by using standardized physiological measurement tools in a controlled setting.
Think critically
To what extent can the concept of 'sublime cinema' be directly translated to the design of functional products, or is it primarily applicable to artistic and entertainment contexts?
Design Principles
"Sensory and stylistic excess in design can be intentionally employed to elicit profound, embodied emotional responses from users."
Understanding how aesthetic choices in design can evoke strong, embodied responses is crucial for creating impactful and memorable experiences. This research suggests that deliberate manipulation of sensory input can lead to deep emotional connections with a product or experience, moving beyond purely functional considerations.
What This Means for Your Design
This research shows that movies without dialogue can still make you feel things very deeply, almost physically, by using cool camera tricks and music.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to support your analysis of how specific design choices in your chosen product or system evoke emotional or psychophysiological responses in users.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The research by Bagatavicius (2015) on 'sublime cinema' suggests that deliberate use of stylistic excess in non-verbal media can evoke profound psychophysiological and emotional responses through embodied spectatorship. This principle is relevant to design projects aiming to create impactful user experiences, as it highlights how visual and auditory elements can be manipulated to foster deeper user engagement and emotional connection.
Source
cIRcle (University of British Columbia)
Sublime cinema : experiential excess and embodied spectatorship in Godfrey Reggio's Qatsi trilogy
journal · 2015
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about non-verbal cinematic techniques can induce profound psychophysiological and emotional responses in viewers?
- Consider how the interplay of visual, auditory, and even implied tactile elements in your design can create a profound, embodied experience for the user, aiming for a 'sublime' rather than merely functional interaction. Evidence: cIRcle (University of British Columbia) (2015).
- Why does "Non-verbal cinematic techniques can induce profound psychophysiological and emotional responses in viewers." matter for design?
- Understanding how aesthetic choices in design can evoke strong, embodied responses is crucial for creating impactful and memorable experiences. This research suggests that deliberate manipulation of sensory input can lead to deep emotional connections with a product or experience, moving beyond purely functional considerations.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Consider how the interplay of visual, auditory, and even implied tactile elements in your design can create a profound, embodied experience for the user, aiming for a 'sublime' rather than merely functional interaction.
- What were the main findings?
- Stylistic excess in non-verbal cinema can lead to a sublime experiential response.. Audiovisual stimuli, including special effects, cinematography, and music, can trigger psychophysiological and emotional reactions such as visual hapticity, synesthesia, and kinesthesia.. Philip Glass's scores, through biomusicological phenomena like rhythmic entrainment, contribute to the sublime effect by propelling the visual experience.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative analysis of cinematic techniques and their theoretical underpinnings..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2015 journal from cIRcle (University of British Columbia).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing interactive experiences, explore how dynamic visual pacing, atmospheric sound design, and unexpected sensory juxtapositions can create moments of heightened emotional engagement.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focuses specifically on cinematic examples and may not directly translate to all design contexts without adaptation. The subjective nature of 'sublime' experiences also presents a challenge for universal application.